Public safety technology and protective zoning laws dominated the discussion at the Des Moines City Council meeting held on Thursday, May 14, 2026.
Local officials put anxieties about potential detention facilities to rest by highlighting the city’s strong zoning codes, and promised to directly address resident concerns regarding Flock license plate readers.
At the same time, the council unveiled plans for a major expansion of automated traffic and school zone speed cameras targeting high-infraction areas.
This session underscored a pivotal moment for Des Moines as it leverages evolving state laws and new technology to reshape local enforcement.
Regarding Flock Cameras & Detention Facilities
Multiple public commenters asked for assurance that the city’s Flock cameras are in compliance with new state code that limits their use. Flock cams are not traffic cameras, in that they don’t issue tickets; instead, they read license plates to help track down vehicles wanted by the police. People worry that this technology is being abused, risking public safety and privacy.
In addition, a speaker asked for an official moratorium on detention facilities. They expressed that the city be proactive and ban them, rather than relying on zoning codes, which they thought had too many loopholes. It was mentioned that the city has empty warehouses that would be the perfect size for a detention facility.
However, later in the meeting City Attorney Tim George explained that, unlike surrounding cities that have had to pass short-term moratoriums on detention facilities, Des Moines is “ahead of the game”. The city’s zoning codes already don’t allow them. George explained that enacting a time-limited moratorium would only set up a state of confusion, with people questioning what would happen when the moratorium expired. He gave assurances that the current city law, written into the zoning codes, does not allow anyone to either build new detention facilities, or to convert existing structures for their use.
Regarding Flock cameras, City Attorney Tim George said that those would be discussed in detail by Police Chief Ted Boe at next week’s meeting. That presentation will include an update on compliance with new state restrictions.
Traffic Camera Expansion
Unlike Flock cameras, traffic cameras aim to help create safer streets by issuing tickets for things like speeding and running red lights. State law limits where they can be used. Des Moines has contracted with Verra Mobility since 2011 for school zone cameras. Once state law allowed, the city then added some red light cameras, and eventually Des Moines was the first city in the state to install park zone cameras. According to Verra Mobility, local drivers are complying with safer driving, with a great reduction of infractions over time. Residents of Des Moines are being sent far fewer traffic cam tickets, while many non-residents have not yet learned to drive with more care through the city.
State law now allows the use of general speed cameras, which can be used in problem areas even if they are not near schools or parks. Based on the current population of the city, Des Moines can install three of these general speed cams. It was recognized that speeding happens on just about every street, but there are certain hot spots where it’s most problematic. Verra Mobility has conducted speed studies in many locations to determine where new speed cameras would make the most difference.
There is no upfront cost to the city for expanding the speed camera program. According to the speed study, the top three most severe speeding areas that would benefit from traffic cameras are northbound Pacific Highway, and 24th Ave in the business park leading to the new freeway entrance, with cameras for both north- and south-bound traffic.
In addition, two new school walk zone cameras will be sought, at 20th and Kent Des Moines Road, and 266th & 16th Ave S. These school zone cameras would operate 24-hours a day, adjusting the speed for issuing tickets when the flashing lights show a reduced speed limit during pickup & dropoff times.
Verra Mobility also has the ability to detect noise levels in order to reduce noise pollution. The only state where this is currently being utilized is Hawaii, but if Washington State law is changed, this could also be coming to Des Moines. City Attorney Tim George said a pilot program is being explored for noise data collection, which would be helpful for advocating with the state.
Video
Watch full, raw video of this meeting here:
